Clothesline prop



CLOTHESLINE PROP Filed Oct. 5, 1949 INVENTOR DANIEL vv.' FORSYTH ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATS FATENT OFFICE CLOTHESLINE PROP Daniel W. Forsythe, Fairplay, Md.

Application October 5, 1949, Serial No. 119,692

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a clothes line, and more particularly to a prop for supporting a clothes line.

The object of the invention is to provide a clothes line prop which includes a spring clip for engagement with the clothes line, and the clothes line prop including a `pair of sections which are telescopically connected together, there being a manually operable means for maintaining the sections immobile in their adjusted positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothes line prop which is adjustable in height, there being a spring clip for engagement with a clothes line.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clothes line prop which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

1n the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the clothes line prop, constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the clothes line prop.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral I designates a spring clip which may be made of wire r the like, and the clip I extends through holes in the upper end of an upper tube 2. The upper tube 2 is slidably or telescopically mounted in a lower tube 4. Arranged on the lower end of the tube 4 is a plug 5 which is adapted to be arranged in engagement with the ground for maintaining the clothes line prop in its proper position.

Projecting upwardly from the lower tube 4 and secured thereto or formed integral therewith is a nger 6. The finger 6 includes a lower straight portion 'l and an upper outwardly curved portion 8. A washer stop 3 is arranged in engagement with the curved portion 8 of the finger 6, and the washer stop 3 engages the upper tube 2 at a point opposite and slightly below the arcuate section 8 of the finger to serve to force the arcuate section 8 against the upper tube so that the upper tube 2 can be maintained immobile in its adjusted position in the lower tube 4.

From the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a clothes line prop which includes an upper tube 2 that is telescopically mounted in a lower tube 4 whereby the clothes line `prop can be adjusted in height. By manually manipulating the washer stop 3, pressure on the nger 6 can be released so that the tube 2 can be raised or lowered as desired. Thus, to adjust the height of the clothes line prop, the friction washer stop 3 is lifted until the parts are in their proper adjusted position and then when pressure is released on the member 3 the upper tube 2 will be maintained immobile in its adjusted position. The washer stop 3 seats on the outer surface of the curved section of the linger 6 thereby forming a fulcrum for the washer stop and the washer stop frictionally engages the opposite side of tube 2 whereby slight relative downward movement of tube 2 causes the washer stop to cant and to force the inner surface of the finger against the tube 2 to act as a locking brake for the tube.

I claim:

A clothes line prop comprising a lower tube and an upper tube telescopically arranged in said lower tube, the diameter of said lower tube being greater than the diameter of said upper tube, an integral finger projecting from the top of said lower tube, a friction washer stop arranged in engagement with said finger and surrounding said upper tube for maintaining said upper tube immobile in its adjusted positions, said nger including a lower portion and an upper arcuate section, the upper end of said iinger curving outwardly away from said upper tube, said washer stop engaging the arcuate section of said ringer and the upper tube at a point opposite and slightly below the arcuate section and serving to force the arcuate section against the upper tube, and a spring clip on the upper end of said upper tube for engagement ,with a clothes line, said washer stop seating on the outer surface of said curved section thereby forming a fulcrum for the washer stop, and the washer stop frictionally engaging the opposite side of said upper tube whereby slight relative downward movement of the upper tube causes the washer stop to cant and to force the inner surface of the iinger against the upper tube to act as a locking brake for the upper tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 432,429 McClaughry July 15, 1890 866,199 Haas Sept. 17, |1907 940,875 Hetherington Nov. 23, 1909 961,234 Hoover June 14, 1910 1,118,821 Smith Nov. 24, 1914 1,374,609 Schell Apr. 12, '1921 1,578,334 McReynolds Mar. 30, 1926 1,951,898 Broby Mar. 20, 1934 2,413,921 Jaspersen Jan. 7, 1947 2,447,992 Turek Aug. 24, 1948 2,468,160 Benson Apr. 26, 1949 

